Stalemate

Question 1

What was the original Schlieffen plan?

Answer 1

Avoid war on two fronts(France and Russia)
Defeat France first bc Russia is slow
Send troops to French-German border to trick French of an invasion
March through bel, lux and neth to outflank and surround the French
Schlieffen believed he’d have control of France in 40 days

Question 2

What changes were made to the Schlieffen plan?

Answer 2

1906 General Von Moltke changed plan to reduce risk
Fewer troops
No advance into Netherlands

Question 3

Describe the failure of the Schlieffen plan.

Answer 3

August 1914- Belgium gave significant resistance- especially at liege
British honoured 74 year old treaty to protect Belgium and sent BEF- delays German advance by 4/5 days
Middle of plan- troops exhausted and supplies too far behind
Russian army ready in 10 days- 100k soldiers sent to east
War on two fronts happened

Question 4

When and where was the Battle of the Marne?

Answer 4

6-10 September 1914

Near River Marne (40km from Paris)

Question 5

What happened at the Battle of the Marne?

Answer 5

German General Von Kluck decided not to go to Paris and went to River Marne instead
British and French attacked and forced Germans to retreat to River Aisle

2mill fought -> over half a mill killed or injured in 1st week
Everyone built trenches to protect

Question 6

What was the race to the sea and the establishment of the Western Front?

Answer 6

Each side moving towards English Channel to get behind their opponents
By november both sides reached the sea
4 year stalemate created

Question 7

Describe the Eastern Front.

Answer 7

Russians made quick advance into German territory, slowed down bc lack of good supplies

Late august- AH advanced into Russian territory then fled bc 500,000 Russian soldiers

100k AH killed, 220k injured, 100k captured
Russians crossed border and took control of part of the country

EASTERN FRONT= RIEGA IN NORTH TO BLACK SEA- WAS MORE MOBILE THAN WESTERN FRONT